On the ice, Harwood boys mean business
March 6, 2021 | By Katie Martin 
Coming off a state championship in 2020 the Harwood varsity boys hockey program was eager to get their delayed season under way. Two weeks in, they haven’t disappointed on the ice.
Originally, the season started out with Jacob Grout returning as head coach, joined by assistants Martin Casey and Shawn Thompson. But after Grout’s abrupt termination prior to the opening game, Thompson was promoted as head coach with Casey as assistant.
As the team began training and waited for the state to lift COVID-19 restrictions on play for the season to begin, Grout took stock of the team and its potential in a pre-season interview.
“We have the ability to be a very deep team this year,” Grout said, reflecting on last season’s 20-3-0 finish. With many returning players, this year, Grout was optimistic. “Who wouldn't be excited to see what they can do with another year under their belts?”
So far, the Highlanders have racked up four wins in their first four games of the 2021 short season and two players have hit Harwood career 100-point milestones -- juniors Skylar Platt and Finn O’Hara.
Harwood 3, U-32 2
Harwood traveled to Montpelier for the first game of the season on Feb. 17, to face off against the U-32 Raiders. Harwood’s season was pushed back due to a COVID-19 scare which resulted in their first regular season game cancelled without a reschedule. As the team prepped for their debut, events led to Grout’s dismissal. Emotions ran high before anyone took to the ice and a rocky match ensued.
Both teams got on the scoreboard in the first period, U-32’s first goal from Hazen Stoufer, assisted by Nolan Lyford. Jake Green scored Harwood's first goal, assisted by Skylar Platt and Flynn O’ Hara. Harwood and U-32 had a handful of penalties in the first period, Harwood’s for interference, roughing, and too many men on the ice.
Shawn Thompson summed up the scene at what was his first game as head coach.
“In all, there were 39 penalty minutes assessed to our team in a 45 minute game. Every goal scored for both teams was on a power play,” Thompson said.
In the second period, Harwood scored their second goal when Platt passed to O’Hara. U-32 also scored in the second, keeping the game neck-and-neck and entering the third period tied.
Platt for the game-winner for Harwood in the third. Raiders goaltender Duncan Mathies had 24 saves; Liam Guyette had 31 for the Highlanders.
Harwood 5, Hartford 0
On Feb. 20, the Highlanders hosted Hartford at The Ice Center in Waterbury, earning their second win of the season and their first shutout.
Harwood scored their first goal of the game in the first period with Finn O’Hara assisted by Skylar Platt and Tanner Woodard. The bulk of the Highlander goals came back-to-back in the second period starting with Platt, assisted by Woodard; then Platt again, assisted by O’ Hara; then O’ Hara assisted by Platt and Garrett Nelson.
Up 4-0 heading into the third period, the Highlanders landed one more across the goal line, with Platt scoring, assisted by O’Hara and Gavin Thomsen, sealing the deal at 5-0.
Thompson beamed. “I couldn't have been more proud of the way they played in the home opener. They really came together and accomplished everything we talked about in practice leading up to the game,” he said.
Highlights of the game included junior Skylar Platt scoring his 100th career point as a Highlander, and goaltender Liam Guyette earning his first shutout of the season
Harwood 3, Milton 2
Harwood hosted Milton High School on a double-header game night following the girls at the Ice Center on Feb. 24. In a close game, the boys rallied, getting a two-goal game-winner in the third period.
In the opening minute, the Highlanders were shown to the inside of the penalty box when Skylar Platt earned himself a five-minute major for boarding.
Milton scored first off a shot at the hash marks that got past goalkeeper Liam Guyette. Harwood replied when defender Jack Lansky, assisted by Charly Seitz, clapped one from the blue line with four seconds to go on their own penalty kill. The teams went into the second period tied 1-1.
Two minutes before the end of the period, Milton had a break-away down the ice against Harwood goalkeeper Liam Guyette who made the save to keep the game tied.
In the third period, Milton took the lead 2-1. Harwood was penalized for too many men on the ice, and played a man down for two minutes but came out to tie the game up again with Finn O’ Hara scoring the tying goal, assisted by Platt and Jonathan O’ Brien. O’Hara then did it again with the go-ahead goal, assisted by Platt.
Milton tried to regroup but ran out of time and into goaltender Guyette who came out of net to shoot the puck out of the zone and deny Milton a final chance for a tie.
The matchup reminiscent of the 2020 season title game ended as Harwood’s third straight win of the season.
Harwood 6, Brattleboro 4
Last Saturday, Feb. 28, was a road trip to Brattleboro for the Harwood boys where yet another player on the team this season achieved their 100th career point. This time it was Finn O’ Hara, after scoring three times and assisting one goal.
In the first period, Brattleboro landed the first goal past Harwood goalkeeper Liam Guyette. Harwood answered with two, the first by Jacob Green, assisted by Tyson Sylvia and Skylar Platt, and another by Jonathan O’ Brien, assisted by Tanner Woodard.
Brattleboro scored about halfway through the second period. Harwood’s power lines out on the ice were able to notch in three goals in the third: the first by Platt, assisted by O’ Hara and O’ Brien; the second goal by O’ Hara, assisted by Platt; and the third and final goal of the second period, by Tanner Woodard assisted by O’Hara.
Heading into the third, 5-2, Brattleboro tried to rally a comeback, scoring two goals, making it 5-4.
Harwood got in one more after a Brattleboro time-out with less than a minute to go in regulation. Harwood’s O’Hara scored unassisted with just 3.6 seconds left in the game.
The Highlander boys game scheduled for March 3, against St. Johnsbury was canceled. St. J’s and Lyndon Institute’s seasons have been suspended due to COVD-19. Harwood is set to travel to Burr & Burton for a 7 p.m. game Saturday in Manchester. Their final home game of the regular season is Wednesday, March 10, at 6 p.m. versus Lyndon; it’s not clear yet whether that game will happen.
Katie Martin is an assistant coach with Harwood girls hockey.